Last week we showed the downside of Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle.  This week the other.  Playing a side of more mature fellows it looked early on as if we would over run them no problem, but as with all games that look that way it never quite happens.  After 4 or 5 corners and 80% of possession to us, the breakthrough finally came after about 20 min and we found ourselves one down.  Only their second shot, but it was a good one.

Never mind.  Plenty time left so off we go again; a few more wasted corners; a couple of silly flicks and eventually a lovely move between four players and a great strike from Tom Thoroughgood and its 1-1.  Back in some sort of rhythm and we see the half out with a flurry of chances.  Andy Bitmead hits the post after great work from Mark Edmonds and Adrian Clark blasts high wide and almost backwards from a yard.

Still at halftime I’m happy I’ve seen enough to suggest we will march on, and tell the lads that with a bit of patience we will see them off and they agree.  And sure enough 15mins into the second half we are 3-1 down and all over the shop!!  So a tactical change is made pushing Tom Thoroughgood up front with Adrian and Andy and a little word in Tom Rose’s ear explaining goal side when marking means our goal and not theirs and suddenly we’re back in it with a goal from Andy Bitmead and another from Tom Thoroughgood.  Its 3-3; whoops no its not, its 3-4.  Then a great goal from Andy Bitmead again and it’s 4-4.  Tom Thoroughgood completes his hattrick and at last there is some sense of normality at 5-4.  And when Scott Shew fired home an unstoppable shot you would think I would be saying 6-4, but unfortunately I’m not.  I’m saying 5-5!

So having promised ref Adrian Turner he would be home in time for the Baggies on pay per view, yes you read that right - he paid to view West Brom - I decided it was time to settle this once and for all and so when Chris Mingay squared the ball to me 35yards out I took a couple strides and unleashed, and it goes without saying that its now 6-5 and when Any Bitmead completed his hattrick it’s 7-5 and it’s time to call it a day and my goal had won the game.  (Started off in the bar as “from the edge of the box”, then after a few drinks it was “a 25 yard screamer”, then “a 30 yard thunderbolt” and by the time the match report has been written I see it’s 35 yards!!! – Buzz)

PS Thank you to Adrian Turner for stepping in at short notice to ref.  His style of reffing help the flow of the game.  What ever happens he keeps the game going; offsides, handballs, fouls, even the ball out of play, "play on" he shouts.

Thank you, Adrian hope you enjoyed the Baggies big win.

Dave Thoroughgood